Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening

General discussion, particularly exploring the Dharma in the modern world.
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zavk
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:50 am

Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening

Post by zavk »

Hi DharmaWheel friends

I don't usually participate here, more on DhammaWheel. But I hope I could ask for a favour....

I'm guessing that you'd have come across various advice about not bringing expectations to one's practice or harbouring stubborn preconceived notions about Awakening. I know I've encountered such advice in books, essays, and talks but never made a point to note them down because they tend to be offhand remarks or asides which aren't the main focus of the discussion at hand. But at the moment, I'd like survey some of these advice in a piece of writing I'm working on. So could you kindly please point me to anything that comes to mind? It doesn't only have to be the sutras...it could be from books, talks, or snippets of sayings (including page numbers if possible), etc, by monastics or lay teachers, anything that expresses the general sentiment of letting go of expectations and of not clinging to preconceptions about the practice or goal would be helpful. Oh, and I'm happy to canvas views from all lineages and traditions.

Many thanks! :anjali:
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oushi
Posts: 1596
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 6:18 am

Re: Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening

Post by oushi »

Say what you think about me here.
dakini_boi
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Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:02 am

Re: Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening

Post by dakini_boi »

Milarepa said something like, "Practice all your life, but don't expect realization." Sorry I don't have the source or exact quote.
deepbluehum
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Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:05 am
Location: San Francisco, CA

Re: Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening

Post by deepbluehum »

"If there is no hope or fear, it is the fruit." --Mahamudra Upadesha
Anistar
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 7:42 am

Re: Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening

Post by Anistar »

The Lojong 59 Slogans deal with this:

"Abandon all hope of fruitian"
"Don't try to be the fastest, don't compete with others"
"Don't use your spirituality to increase yourself absorbtion"
"Don'r expect applause"
"Other's before self, dharma, and awakening compassion".


Just some that stood out to me the other day.

Jay
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